Display card holder



Apnl 16,, 1 940. w.-R. CHURCHILL DISPLAY CARD HOLDER Filed Jan. 9, 1939 INVENTOR. C7240" Patented Apr. 16, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to display card holders and the like. More specifically, it has to do with holders for price cards and other such information, intended to be generally used at such places 5 as counters, shelves and other places where prices of merchandise are displayed, and particularly in stores.

It has long been, and it still is, customary to insert such information cards as price indicating 10 cards in metal, or the like, holders having the edges folded over to form a retaining flange at the top and bottom. Cards are inserted by sliding them into the space behind the flanges from the ends, or by pressing and bending them'into place, The cards are then difiicult to remove where change of information is needed, and this is especially true if the holder is so constructed that the card must be pressed into place. 20 When there is a special sale of the merchandise, and prices generally have to be revised, especially for just a few days, and then return to normal, it usually means removing many, perhaps hundreds, of these cards and temporarily replacing them with other cards, and then when the emergency is removed, restoring the original information cards. If there are many such cards, they must be sorted and kept in order, and it is necessary for someone who is familiar with the price of the various articles of merchandise, to replace them when the sale is over.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device which may be used over or in addition to the ordinary card holder such as mentioned above, for displaying alternative information or information supplementing that already shown. In other words, it is an object to provide a means for showing the information desired, without the necessity of removing the card with the undesired information.

It is a further object to provide a means for quickly and easily securing a display cardholder to the ordinary counter price card holder or the like. In this connection, it is an object to provide such display card holder with means whereby it may be attached to the ordinary counter price card holder or the like, by smooth operation which is quickly and easily performed, and which usually requires no more than placing the ends of a spring clip in the groove formed by the bottom flange of the price card holder, pressing down slightly and moving the display device inwardly against the price card holder, and then releasing. It is a feature that the device may be released and re- 55 moved as easily by simply pressing down lightly,

moving the top of the device outwardly, and then lifting away from contact. The display card holder can thus be placed over the undesired price or information, and will hide it from the public and at the same time display the present price, and when the time comes removal of the display card holder will restore to view the original information.

It is a further object to provide a device which may be cheaply and easily manufactured in quantity by the use of punch presses and the like, and one which may be made of inexpensive materials.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the nature of the improvements is 7 better understood, the invention consisting substanti ally in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and finally pointed out in the appended claims. i

The form of the invention herein shown and described presents a preferred embodiment thereof, and delineates its adaption to practical use, but it is to be understood that the present dis- I closure is to be considered from the illustrative standpoint and not as imposing restriction or lirnitation on the invention.

' In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation, showing two of the display card holders of the present invention in position on an ordinary counter price and information card holder;

Figure 2 is an enlarged, front elevational, detail View of the display card holder, showing by broken lines the spring clip holding mechanism and how it is used to fasten the display card holder on the price and information card holder.

The latter is shown as a fragmentary portion;

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the device forming the subject matter of this application;

Figure 4 is a plan view corresponding to the view of Figure 2, with the display card being shown in the display card holder, and the price and information card being indicated by broken lines as being in place in the price and information cardholder;

Figure 5 is a side elevation in cross section, of the device shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, being a view takenon the lines 5--5 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 is a front elevation of a modified form of the display card holder; and

Figure '7 is a rear view corresponding to that of Figure 6.

, Referring more in detail'to the constructions I shown in the various figures, 20 indicates what I shall designate as a typical price card holder. It has the edge-portions bent over to form the upper and lower flanges 2i and 2 2,respectively (referring especially to Figure It is understood that while these flanges are referred to here as upper and lower flanges, they may be otherwise positioned, say'at the sides, and if so positioned would be equally usable for the purposes of this invention.

Ordinarily, the price or information card is insertedin the grooves behind these flanges 2! and 22, either by sliding the card in from an open end-in eventit is open--or by placing one portion of the price card in position behind the flange, or flanges, and flexing, bending, and otherwise forcing the other portions of the price card into place behind said flanges. I have shown such a price card 23, positioned as it would ordinarily be. In the arrangement shown, it could be inserted from the end, which is open. Reference to Figures 4 and 5 clearly indicates the price card 23.

As clearly shown in Figures 2, 3, l and 5, the display card holder 24 (here called display card holder" to distinguish it from the ordinary price card holder 20) is provided with the back 25 (see especially Figure 5) which is bent outwardly and over the three edges at least, to form the displayretaining flanges 28 and 2? and 23 (called display-retaining flanges to distinguish from the flanges 2i and 22).

These display-retaining flanges 2d, 2'? and 28,

receive and retain the display card 29 in position-as is clearly shown in Figures 4 and 5. This display card 29, may be inserted from the top or open end portion of the holder 241. The holder 24 has the retaining ledge 38 formed by pressing or stamping, or otherwise, and which extends outwardly and upwardly from the back 25 of the holder. It is obvious that this retaining ledge 3t may be formed by soldering or spot-welding, or otherwise fastening a supplementary portion of material properly shaped to the back of the holder. Apparently, however, the most economical and desirable form is that shown, which is stamped out of the material forming the back 25 of the holder. This retaining ledge 38 serves a. dual purpose. It serves first to form a seat for the top portion 3! of the spring-clip 32. Second, it serves, when the holder 24 is in position of use, to seat firmly behind the flange 2i and retain the holder 24 from upward and outward move? ments, thus cooperating with the spring-clip 32 to retain the holder 2% securely in place.

The spring-clip 32 is provided with the arm portions 33 and 3 3. These arm portions 33 and 34 preferably have the upturned end portions 35 and 36, which are so shaped to offer less resistance to pressing into place (as will be more clearly described later). These end portions may be otherwise formed, as, for instance, in a knob or circle, or even left straight.

The arms 33 and 3 preferably have a tendency to exert pressure towards each other. In other words, they tend to spring inwardly. They seat, respectively, behind and are retained in position by the retaining back portions 3"! and 38.

As will be more clearly seen from examination of Figures 3, 4 and 5, the retaining back portions .may be formed similarly to the method of forming the retaining ledge 30, that is, by stamping or otherwise pressing out of the material of the back 25 of the holder 25, or by spot-welding supplemental pieces of material to the back 25 or otherwise. The arm 33 seats behind the retaining back portion 31, and the arm 34 seats behind the retaining back portion 38, and each arm maintains spring tension with the respective back portions against movement towards each other. In addition, these back portions retain the arms 33 and 34 against outward movement about the spring top portion 3!, as an axis, when the holder is in use, and likewise prevents the spring clip 32 from moving upwardly and out of engagement with the retaining ledge 30.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7, I have provided the means above mentioned for fastening a display card holder on the regular price card holder. In addition, I have provided the easel cutouts 39, which may be stamped out of the material forming the back of the holder 24. They may be bent backwardly to form easel members retaining the holder 2 in substantially upright position on a flat, horizontal surface, such as a table top or the like, where the fastening means 83 and 32 are not usable. They may be likewise inserted under the edge of a piece of merchandise or a piece of glass, or the like, forming the top of a counter for support at the edge of the counter.

The portion here designated as hanger cut out 40, may be formed by stamping, pressing, or otherwise, out of the material of the back 25 of the holder 2t. This hanger cut out portion Ml may be used (by bending outwardly slightly) to hang on the edge of the counter or shelf, or on a string or wire, or any thin upright wallportion, such as a retaining wall on a counter for screws or other small items. The method of so using it is obvious and does not need further description here.

In using the device forming the subject matter of this invention, (except for the use of the portions 39 and ii! of the Figures 6 and 7) the display card 29 is placed between the display retaining flanges 2'5, 2? and 23, and the back 25 of the display holder. The upturned end portions 35 and 35 of the spring-clip 32 are inserted behind the lower flange 22 of the price card holder 2! and usually in front of the price cards 23. A slightdownward and inward pressure is exerted on the display card holder E l, which resultsinspringing the arms 33 and 3d of the springclip 32 outwardly at the bottom, and moving the back edge portion of the retaining ledge 35 to a position between the flange 2i and the back wall of the price card holder. The display card holder is then permitted to move upwardly by release of pressure mentioned above, and will result in the retaining ledge 3i seating firmly behind flange ill, thus securely holding the display card holder 24 firmly in place. To remove the holder 24 it is only necessary to exert pressure downwardly and outwardly until the retaining ledge Si is clear of the upper flange 2?. Re lease of pressure and lifting of the display card holder 25 will result in disengagement from the price card holder 25). Both the operations of placing the holder 25 in position and removing it are simple and easy and may be quickly and easily performed. The upward curve of the arms 33 and 3d at their portions 35 and 36, make them easier to place behind the flange 22 without scraping the flange or the price card already in the price card holder 28.

While I have herein shown and described certain features of my invention, still I do not wish to limit myself thereto, except as I may do so in the claims.

I claim:

1. A display card holder comprising in combination a back having a plurality of edge portions bent over and forming a retaining flange for a display card, a retaining ledge on the rear of said back, a plurality of retaining back portions also on the rear of the back and spring clip means held in position by said retaining ledge and retaining back portions, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the class described a display card holder having a retaining ledge on the back thereof, retaining back portions also on the back thereof, and spring clip means seating in said retaining ledge and passing between the retaining back portions and the back of the holder.

3. A display card holder having means thereon retaining the display card on said holder, and upper retaining ledge on the back portion of said holder, retaining back portions, means comprising a spring clip having its top portion seated in said retaining ledge, and having its arm portions held against movement outwardly about the top portion as an axis and also held against movement of the arms toward each other above the back retaining portions, said arms being so constructed that they exert spring pressure toward the retaining ledge when depressed at their lower portions.

WILLIS R. CHURCHILL. 

